German submarine U-968

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-968
Ordered5 June 1941
Builder
Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number168
Laid down14 May 1942
Launched4 February 1943
Commissioned18 March 1943
FateSurrendered on 9 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 29 November 1945
General characteristics
Class and type
Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
  • 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in)
    o/a
  • 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in)
    pressure hull
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 51 536
Commanders:
  • Otto Westphalen
  • 18 March 1943 – 9 May 1945
Operations:
  • 7 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • a. 7 March – 2 April 1944
  • b. 4 – 6 April 1944
  • c. 11 – 14 July 1944
  • d. 17 – 21 July 1944
  • e. 20 – 22 August 1944
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 29 August – 10 September 1944
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 24 September – 3 October 1944
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 14 October – 11 November 1944
  • b. 13 – 16 November 1944
  • c. 23 – 25 January 1945
  • d. 1 February 1945
  • 5th patrol:
  • 7 – 20 February 1945
  • 6th patrol:
  • 12 – 30 March 1945
  • 7th patrol:
  • a. 21 April – 6 May 1945
  • b. 7 May 1945
  • c. 15 – 19 May 1945
Victories:
  • 2 merchant ships sunk
    (14,386 GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk
    (1,350 tons)
  • 1 merchant ship total loss
    (7,200 GRT)
  • 1 warship total loss
    (1,350 tons)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (8,129 GRT)

German submarine U-968 was a

Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II
. She was
Otto Westphalen
.

Design

supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).

anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 18 March 1943, followed by active service on 1 March 1944 as part of the 13th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.

In seven patrols she sank two merchant ships, for a total of 14,386 gross register tons (GRT), damaged one other.

Wolfpacks

U-968 took part in seven wolfpacks, namely:

  • Hammer (17 March – 1 April 1944)
  • Dachs (1 – 5 September 1944)
  • Zorn (26 September – 1 October 1944)
  • Grimm (1 – 2 October 1944)
  • Panther (16 October – 10 November 1944)
  • Rasmus (7 – 13 February 1945)
  • Hagen (13 – 21 March 1945)

Fate

U-968 surrendered on 9 May 1945 at Narvik, Norway. She was subsequently transferred to Loch Eriboll in Scotland on 19 May 1945, and later to Loch Ryan as part of Operation Deadlight. She was eventually sunk by Allied forces on 29 November 1945 in the

North Atlantic in position 55°24′N 06°22′W / 55.400°N 6.367°W / 55.400; -6.367
.

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
14 February 1945 Norfjell  Norway 8,129 Damaged
14 February 1945 Horace Gray  United States 7,200 Total loss
17 February 1945 HMS Lark  Royal Navy 1,350 Total loss
17 February 1945 Thomas Scott  United States 7,176 Sunk
20 March 1945 Thomas Donaldson  United States 7,210 Sunk
20 March 1945 HMS Lapwing  Royal Navy 1,350 Sunk

References

Notes

  1. gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement
    .

Citations

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-968". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-968". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 August 2014.

Bibliography

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_submarine_U-968&oldid=1214247141"